Wallet (application)

Wallet

The Passbook app's introduction screen on iOS 8.1 on iPhone 6 (at this time it was still named Passbook, not Wallet)
Developer(s) Apple Inc.
Initial release September 19, 2012 (2012-09-19) (iOS 6)
Stable release iOS 9.1 / October 21, 2015 (2015-10-21)
Development status Active
Written in Objective-C
Operating system iOS 6 and later
Platform iOS, watchOS
License Freeware
Website www.apple.com/ios/whats-new/#passbook

Apple Wallet (referred to as simply Wallet) is an application in Apple's iOS (previously known as Passbook in iOS 6 to iOS 8) that allows users to store coupons, boarding passes, event tickets, store cards and, starting with iOS 8.1, credit cards, loyalty cards, and debit cards via Apple Pay.[1] The technology is designed by Apple Inc. and was presented at the 2012 Apple Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) on June 11, 2012 under the name Passbook (now Wallet, as of iOS 9).[2] The application was released as a built-in app for iPhones and iPod Touch devices alongside iOS 6 on September 19, 2012.

Features

The Wallet application displays Aztec, PDF417 and QR 2D barcodes and Code 128 1D barcodes beginning with iOS 9.[3] Each digital coupon or ticket is known as a "pass".[4] When the user launches Wallet for the first time, a brief introduction screen will appear with a button inviting users to browse applications on the App Store with Wallet integration. Passes can also be distributed online via Safari, sent to the user via email, or scanned using the built-in scanner in the Wallet app.

Passes are synced between iOS devices using iCloud, and OS X 10.8.2 and higher also support opening passes to be sent to users' iOS devices. Although the application is available in iOS 6 or later, it is currently only available on iPhone and iPod Touch, but not on iPad.[5]

Wallet has the following features:

As Wallet is only officially provided by Apple for iOS, several third party developers have created unsupported applications for other operating systems, such as Pass2U, Passes, or PassWallet for Android & BlackBerry, that support importing and viewing Wallet passes. Windows 8.1 Phone also[7] supports Apple's pass format as well, although dynamic updates are not supported. Some issuers[8] of passes also support viewing the passes through any web browser.

Wallet Ecosystem

Passes exist in a larger ecosystem, because passes are created as a package. The package is a pass template, that is created with a pass signer, along with relevant data and a private key. Passes can be updated at any time using the PassKit API and an iOS app can interact directly with passes stored in Wallet.

Passes are presented and managed by the Wallet app. Systems and apps interact with passes via the PassKit API.

In its simplest form, an interaction (or transaction) between a Pass and a system is facilitated by a 2D Barcode or the modern QR code although it requires the customer to initiate the activity.

In late 2014 the first known implementations utilizing the iBeacon wireless geofencing started to appear in retail locations in the US. The iBeacon solutions allowed the retailer to broadcast an unsolicited lock-screen notice onto smartphones within Wi-Fi range, which is about one thousand feet.

Wallet Pass Distribution

Passes can be distributed via email, SMS, MMS, the web, social media, an app, and as QR codes [9]

Pass scanners and vendors

Name Vendor Remarks
Pass Scanner PassSource An application used for scanning passes (and QR, Aztec, and PDF417 codes). It can display the message encoded in large type for easy entry or it can display a web page in an embedded UIWebView or it can perform intelligent updates (automatically invalidating passes, incrementing loyalty cards, etc.) for passes created at PassSource. It allows for:
  • Validating the scanned pass against the PassSource database.
  • Automatically invalidating coupons.
  • Automatically incrementing punch cards and loyalty cards.
  • Automatically decrementing class cards.
  • Automatically triggering[10] other APIs and scripts.
  • Providing custom web-app interfaces for modifying pass information.
  • Using custom URL endpoints when scanning any QR, Aztec, Code 128 or PDF417 code (pass or paper).
  • Integration into any backend using the API.
Pass Verifier An application for scanning and verifying Wallet passes:
  • Scan: Barcodes can be scanned in order to add passes directly to Wallet.
  • Verify: Passes can be validated by pass issuers (in-store processing), offline and online verification is supported. Integration into any backend is supported by API.
CodeREADr A scanning application for iOS and Android for businesses to Scan Wallet passes and push the scan data back to their own redemption system or a third party redemption system. Supports online & offline validation. Scan-Mask. HTML responses. The Web control panel gives admins control to provisoin scanning permissions to multiple employee scanning devices, export scan reports, integrate through an API. PCI compliant. 21 CFR Part 11 compliant.
Loopy Loyalty Stamper Loopy Loyalty The Loopy Loyalty Stamper allows merchants to scan a Wallet Pass and instantly add a digital stamp to their customer's digital stamp card.
PassCheckout PassKit (the company, not the framework) An application and web service for in-shop processing service of Wallet passes issued via PassKit.[11]

Some of the services provided include:

  • Receiving of scanned code, via keyboard input, webcam or USB Barcode scanner.
  • Validating the scanned pass against the PassKit database.
  • Providing configurable processing options per template, for example: Redeem, Invalidate, Add Value, Deduct Value and UpdateManage shop locations, users, pass type options.
  • Overview of transactions, export to Excel.

This service is currently running in Beta with many new features in development and coming soon.

eWallet.gr eWallet.gr Paper coupons, plastic cards, leaflets, mass emails & SMSs (spam) are unfocused and out of fashion strategies for providing strong consumer incentive. They are neither targeted nor interactive or cost effective. Also having to access multiple mobile Apps/Websites is many times inconvenient.

The mobile wallet in association with eWallet.gr's management solution collects and manages loyalty cards, coupons, gift cards, store cards, member cards, event tickets, stamp cards and boarding passes right on the consumer's smartphone, providing huge technological advantages. Promote offers, reward, attract and facilitate consumers.

References

  1. ↑ https://developer.apple.com/passbook/
  2. ↑ Trew, James (June 11, 2012). "Apple unveils iOS 6 at WWDC, launch apps with Siri, Facebook integration, Maps". Engadget. AOL. Retrieved September 22, 2012.
  3. ↑ http://www.passsource.com/info/new.php What's new in Passbook with iOS 9
  4. ↑ "Apple Passbook and its potential impact on the travel industry". Tnooz. June 19, 2012. Retrieved September 27, 2012.
  5. ↑ "iOS What's New: Passbook". Apple Inc. Retrieved September 26, 2012.
  6. ↑ https://developer.apple.com/library/ios/documentation/UserExperience/Conceptual/PassKit_PG/Chapters/Creating.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP40012195-CH4-SW54. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  7. ↑ http://www.imore.com/windows-phone-81-somehow-working-apple-passbook
  8. ↑ https://www.passsource.com/info/#view New version of PassSource.com offers web views of passes
  9. ↑ "Getting Started with Passbook" (PDF). Apple Inc.
  10. ↑ https://www.passsource.com/api/#triggers PassSource supports expanded triggers that can call any URL when a pass is scanned or installed.
  11. ↑ "PassBook, PassKit and PassCheckout". November 16, 2012. Retrieved January 8, 2013.

External links

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